Machine for expanding preslitted metal sheets



J. A. HALLS MACHINE FOR EXPANDING PRESLITTED METAL SHEETS Filed July28 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l X i 1 gwvantoz E i I Jos phfllfwlls,

Dec. 27, 1927. r 1,654,460

J. A. HALLS MACHINE FOR EXPANDING PRESLITTED METAL SHEETS Filed July28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ogo @s bh uZHalLs W I M I at:

atente Dec. 27, 1927. x NITED STATES 1,654,460 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. HALLS, OF YONNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 TRUSCON STEEL COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

, App1ication filed July as, 1926. Serial No. 125,572.

This invention relates to the manufacture of metal lathing and more particularly to a novel construction of machine for opening and expanding a pre-slitted metal sheet to make the lath product.

A primary object of the invention is to simplify the construction of a machine of this kind thereby tq greatly reduce the costvide an expanding mechanism which effec- 3 mg operation.

tively operates upon a metal sheet which has been previously slitted in a manner to form the well known herringbone type of metal lath, provision being made to permit either the 'unexpanded or expanded part of the sheet to shift longitudinally-during the open- With these and other objects in view which will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated and claimed and it will also be understood that structural modifications may be resorted to without departing from the principles or scope of the invention.

For purposes of illustration certain preferred embodiments of the invention are shownin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the expanding machine embodying the'improvement constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 illustrating a form of stripping device that may be employed to strip the expanded material from the toothed expanding member.

Figure 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of toothed expanding mem ber, the active part of which operates in a rectilinear path.

Figure 4c is a detail :face view of a portion of the toothed expanding member shown in Fig. 3.

Fig'ure'5 is a plan view of a pre-slitted herringbone blank shown partly expanded.

The'improved machine comprises several principal parts which include the machine stand or frame A, the feed table B at the top thereof, a stationary die block 0 seated in a receiving recess 0 therefor at the inner edge of the feed table, a pressure bar I) supported in brackets 01 above the table top and arranged in a position vertically above the die block leaving an intervening guiding pass 19 between these two members, and the toothed expanding member E.

Preferably there is associated withthe to feed table a sheet holding and feeding unit F which includes a sliding feeding bar 1 having a "parallel motion toward and from,

the guiding pass p and the expanding member E. This feeding bar is supported for its sliding movement uponthe feed table in any suitable manner and has associated therewith a suitably mounted operating handle 2 and carriesa work holding gauge '3. This work holding gaugeusually consists of a sheet steel or equipment plate rigidly fastened at one. edge as at4 to the feeding; bar 1 and having an inclined web portion which. slidably works over the table top. This formation of work holding gauge provides a work seat or abutment 5 in which is seated the back edge of the pre-slitted sheet S when placed in position for being fed by the forward movement of the gauge throng the pass in to the expanding member E.

A distinctive feature of the present invention resides in a linear toothed expanding member E, that is to say, an expanding member uniform in width and comparatively long and having its active portion operating in a rectilinear path in proximity to and across the plane of the inner active edge portion of the stationary die block 0.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the linear expanding member E consists substantially of a flat plate member of a unitary or sectional construction and provided upon the active side or face thereof with the uniform succession of shouldered die teeth 6 extending longitudinally across the face of the plate body and at least coextensive in length with the length of the pre-slitted-blank to be opened into meshes. These die teeth 6 are cut sufliciently deep, and are spaced a sufficient distance engaging and opening a pre-slitted sheet of the herringbone type. Also, it is important that these die teeth, or ribs shall extend continuously in straight lines longitudinally, or across the face of the plate body, so that each individual die rib will present a substantially continuous flat shoulder that engages throughout an uncut strip. or vertebra between the rows of the diagonal slits in the the points 8 o stripping fingers 9 preferably mounted on a pivotal support 10 carried by the machine frame or stand. Said stripping fingers 9 may be swung to an inclined position where their points 8 loosely engage in the stripper grooves 7 of the plate body E so that as the said plate body or expanding member E descends in the operation of engaging and opening the pre-slitted sheet the open part ofthe sheet below the die block C will engagethe stripping fingers 9 and be lifted thereby out of engagement with the die teeth of the expanding member and deflectedto a convenient delivery point as plainly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for reciprocating the toothedexpanding member E, that is, to first move it in a rectilinear path downward past the die block C to successively engage the uncut strips or vertebrae of the entire sheet, to fully open the sheet before such downward movement is arrested and then to raise the said expanding member E to .a starting position for the new sheet S inserted in feeding position within the machine. To illustrate one way for accomplishing these movements the toothed expanding member E is shown provided with a gear rack 11 engaged by the pinion 12 of drlve gearing 13 which is geared to an electric motor or power unit 14 with which latter may be associated a reversing switch 15 of the conventional ty e to be manipulated by the operator for reclprocating the expanding member E as desired.

By way of showing the range of modification that may be resorted to in the selection of a linear type expanding member there is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings an expanding member E in the form of an endless belt or chain mounted upon spaced oppositel arranged belt wheels or rollers 16 and 1 respectively, one of which may be geared directly with anelectric motor or other suitable power unit 18, asshown. The endless belt type expanding member E is so arranged that the active run R thereof 'is a linear member operatin in arectilinear path across the face of the ie block and to a material the shouldered die teeth 6 of the expanding member shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but a practical construction for the belt orchain expanding member consists in making such belt or chain of a continuous series of pivotally connected chain links 19 formed with shouldered corners producing the shouldered the teeth 6, and these die teeth 6 of links in the same horizontal plane are in effect continuations of one another producing substantially continuous die teeth 6 throughout the width of the belt or chain and in sawtooth formation, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

With either form of the toothed expanding members E and E when the sheet is fed through the guiding pass 10 the downward movement of the linear expanding member across the face of the die block C causes the die teeth thereof successively to engage the uncut strips or vertebrae between the rows between the diagonal slits in the herringbone blank, causing the successive opening of an entire row of said slits at once, producing the herringbone effect in the mesh of the product. A feature of practical importance in this machine when it is employed for opening the herringbone mesh is that the pressure bar D is so mounted as to place a slight frictional holding pressure upon the slitted sheet while not interfering with its longitudinal reciprocations or vibrations as the diagonal strands are pulled to the open position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In other words it is understood that the frictional resistance ofiered to the feed of the sheet between the pressure bar and the die block is greater than the force exerted to ex- 5 pand or open the sheet, but not sufficient to prevent one part of the sheet to shift in a longitudinal direction to adapt it to the swing of the strands as they are pulled open to the diagonal position. This action is peculiar to the herringbone sheet, and provision must be made for it in the proper adjustment and coordination of the various instrumentalities of the machine, particularly in-the mounting and adjustment of the pressure bar D as above stated.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and advantages of the improvements herein described will be understood.

as maybe necessary or desired without departing from the spirit or principle of the inventiop, and it also will be understood that while the machine has been described as particularly adapted for producing -herringbone lath the same may be also utilized for opening pre-slitted sheets intended to make other forms of mesh. Furthermore, while the drawings show the linear expanding members E and R operating in a vertical rectilinearpath it will be understood that the im ,vention will necessarily include'these members operating in a rectilinear path at other angles. Y

I claim 1. An expanding machine for pre-slitted metal sheets. including the frame having a table top and a die member, and a linear expanding member arranged to move in proximity to the die member and having non-cutting shoulders for engaging a longitudinal .portion of the sheet; and means for if feeding the slitted sheetagainst the expand-.

' ing member.

2'. An expandin metal sheets inclu ing a frame, a table with a die member, a pressure bar located over the die member an expanding member ar- I the sheet.

ranged to move 1n a rectilinear path in proximity'to the die member and having. noncutting shouldered projections in sawtoothed formation, and feeding means for machine for pre-slitted metal sheets including a frame, a table with, a die member at its edge, a toothed expanding member arranged to move ina rectilinear path in proximity to the die member, and means forfeeding a slitted sheet to the expanding member at right angles to the path of the movementof the latter and so arranged as to allow longitudinalreciprocating motion of the sheet."

5. A. machine for expanding pre-slitted metal sheets including a stationary table, a sheet-opening linear toothed expanding member movable in a rectilinear ath in proximity to longitudinal tion, and means for frictionally engaging the sheet over said edge to permit opening of the meshes by the die teeth and permitting longitudinal reciprocatingmotion of the sheet.

6. An expandin machine for pre-slitted metal sheetsinclud ing a frame, a table with a die member, a linear expanding member operating in a rectilinear (path in proximity with; the die member an provided at one side with a succession of shouldered non cutting die teeth in saw-tooth formation, and power means for reciprocating said expanding member.

. An expanding metal sheets including a frame,

a table with a die member, a linear expanding member 7'5 with the die member and provided at one side with asuccession of shouldered nonoperating in a rectilinear path in proximity die teeth in saw-tooth formation,

cutting for feeding the slitted sheet against means the expanding member atright angles to itspath of movement, and power means for reciprocating said: expanding member.

In testimony whereof signature.

' JOSEPH A. HALLS.

an edge of the table an having die teeth in saw-tooth formamachine for pre-slitted v a I hereunto aflix my I 

